The Bonneville cutthroat trout (BCT) and Colorado River cutthroat trout (CRCT) are species covered under Conservation Agreements to help protect and expand their populations and habitats to prevent them from becoming listed under the ESA. The DWR has constructed and maintains many fish barriers throughout southern Utah streams to protect conservation populations of cutthroat trout. The barriers are need to prevent non-native fish species from inhabiting streams with pure strain native cutthroats. UM Creek flows into Forsyth Reservoir and then down into Mill Meadow Reservoir. Above Forsyth Reservoir, UM Creek supports a Conservation Population of Colorado River cutthroat trout. The main barrier on UM Creek has not always been an effective barrier and splake have gotten above it in the past. Recently a few rainbow trout have been netted and caught in Forsyth Reservoir. The rainbows pose a threat to the CRCT population if they should become established and move above the fish barrier. We believe that the dam at Forsyth Reservoir is not always an effective barrier and rainbow trout can move upstream from Mill Meadow Reservoir into Forsyth Reservoir. Rainbow trout may also have been moved by other people. The Southern Region would like to build a fish migration barrier on UM Creek just above Mill Meadow Reservoir to prevent or reduce the risk of rainbow trout, as well as perch, from moving upstream into Forsyth Reservoir. In Fall of 2019 the main UM Creek barrier just above Forsyth Reservoir had maintenance work completed and it now functions much better as a barrier to help protect the CRCT population. Three existing barriers on the North and South Forks of North Creek had maintenance work completed on them in fall of 2019, but there was too much water to repair the concrete splash pads. On one barrier the pad has completely washed away and needs to be rebuilt, and the other two have holes in the concrete that needs to be repaired. Manning Creek supports a population of Bonneville cutthroat trout and Manning Reservoir is one of our wild brood populations for taking eggs. The rock barrier was one of the first barriers built a long time ago. There has always been a concern that non-native fish could get around the barrier during high flows. A couple of years ago brown trout were found above the barrier. The barrier needs to have more rock added to it and a larger splash pad to make it a better more secure barrier. In June of 2020, a new diversion structure was built above the rock barrier that should function as a second barrier.

Build one new barrier and repair 4 other barriers to protect native cutthroat trout populations.

Barriers could fail and non-native fish invade cutthroat trout stream sections. People could move non-native fishes above the barriers.

Meets objectives in the Bonneville Cutthroat Trout and Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Conservation Agreements with the USFWS by expanding genetically healthy populations, creating metapopulations, and improving, restoring and protecting existing and potential cutthroat trout habitat. Meets UDWR goals and objectives to conserve, enhance and manage Utah's protected wildlife populations by: - maintaining and increasing critical habitats and watersheds - decrease risk to species and habitats - Manage sensitive species populations to prevent them from being federally listed

Not applicable

No impact to water quantity. UM Creek will have increased sediment inputs during the short time period of construction. Wet concrete will not be allowed to enter the stream.

The Fishlake National Forest is working to complete approval through a Catagorical Exclusion (CX) for the UM Creek barrier. Before construction, a stream channel alteration permit will be secured for the UM Creek and Manning Creek barriers.

We plan for the DWR Heavy Equipment Crew to do the barrier work on UM Creek and Manning Creek in October or November, 2021. For the UM Creek barrier the DWR will purchase concrete blocks and have them delivered to the barrier site. The DWR excavator will be used to prepare and shape the stream channel, stack the blocks to build the barrier and place fill material in the stream bed above the barrier. Some local rock will be used around the barrier as well. The Southern Region's Bobcat loader will also be used in construction work. For the Manning Creek barrier, the DWR excavator will be used to collect large rock from around the barrier site and stack the rock on the existing barrier to build vertical side walls and a higher barrier wall. Regional DWR personnel will install concrete splash pads or make repairs on all of the barriers.

The barriers will be visually inspected as often as possible, at least every other year or more. Periodically electro-shocking will be conducted above barriers to be sure non-native fish have not gotten above the barriers.

Fishlake National Forest

All of the streams will continue to be managed as Conservation populations of cutthroat trout. Periodically the fisheries above the barriers will sampled to assess the population and to be sure non-native fishes do not occur.

The streams will continue to provide recreational fishing and have no impact to other land uses in the areas.

10/18/2021

03/25/2022

2022

The DWR purchased concrete blocks and had them delivered to the UM Creek barrier site. The DWR Heavy Equipment crew and DWR regional personnel used their excavator to prepare and shape the stream channel, stack the blocks to build the barrier, install a rubber pond liner above the blocks, and placed fill material in the stream bed above the barrier. Some local rock was used around the barrier as well. The Southern Region's Bobcat loader was also used in construction work to move the blocks and dirt. A few water birch trees and woody debris was removed below the barrier. For the Manning Creek barrier, the DWR excavator and crew was used to collect large rock from around the barrier site and stack the rock on the existing barrier to build vertical side walls and a strengthen the barrier wall. Berms to direct high stream flows over the barrier were also constructed. Southern Regional DWR personnel will install concrete splash pads on Manning Creek barrier and make repairs to concrete pads on the North Creek barriers in fall 2022.

The UM Creek barrier work went well and the barrier is complete and functioning well. It will prevent non-native fishes (especially rainbow trout) in Mill Meadow Reservoir moving up stream into Forsyth Reservoir and help protect a Conservation population of Colorado River cutthroat trout in UM Creek above the reservoir. The pool formed above the barrier should fill in with sediment within a year. The fish barrier on Manning Creek was not in good condition and recently brown trout have been found above the barrier. The barrier is now rebuilt and is much stronger and solid, with vertical side walls and berms that will keep high stream flows going over the barrier instead of around the sides. As of 5/20/2022 the concrete splash pad has not been installed. UDWR regional personnel will install it sometime in the fall.

Periodic inspections to be sure the barriers are in good condition and functioning properly.